Nonwoven Fabric and Method and Apparatus for Manufacturing the Same

ABSTRACT

A nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of discontinuous fibers, a plurality of natural keratin fibers, and a plurality of meltblown fibers. The discontinuous fibers, the natural keratin fibers, and the meltblown fibers form a continuous bonding web structure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number101118712, filed May 25, 2012, which is herein incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fabrics. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to nonwoven fabrics.

2. Description of Related Art

The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougherexterior feathers. Down is one of the best natural thermal insulators.Down is made of fine rachis, on which are barbs and babulesinterconnected to form a fiborous loose structure. The loose structureencapsulates numerous tiny air pockets that entrap air, which helps tostop convection of air and thus insulate against cold air. Generally,the down is used in warm gears such as jackets, bedding, pillows andsleeping bags by forming a padding like layer.

However, down jackets often give an impression of styleless, bloated andbulky. In addition, in manufacturing a down jacket, a down chamber isformed first, then a pre-weighted down is blown into the down chamber,and finally the down chamber is seam sealed by needle stitching torestrain the down in the down chamber. Thus, the down jacket may loseits down through the needle holes of the seams. Since along the seamsthere are only two layers of fabrics stiched together, the space nearthe seams may only have the lining and the shell without the down, andthe down fibers are not bonded together and thus shift around in thedown chamber, thereby producing a nonuniform insulation effect.Moreover, in manufacturing the down jacket, sewing and down fillingprocesses require a lot of labor and consuming a lot of time and thusadding up the cost of the jacket. These are the problems that thegarment industry must face and the consumers have to pay for whenenjoying down.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a nonwoven fabricincludes a plurality of discontinuous fibers, a plurality of naturalkeratin fibers, and a plurality of meltblown fibers. The discontinuousfibers, the natural keratin fibers, and the meltblown fibers form acontinuous bonding web structure.

Optionally, the meltblown fibers may bond the discontinuous fibers andthe natural keratin fibers.

Optionally, each of the meltblown fibers may have a diameter rangingfrom about 0.5 μm to about 100 μm.

Optionally, the nonwoven fabric may have from about 2.5 wt % to about 95wt % of the discontinuous fibers, from about 2.5 wt % to about 95 wt %of the natural keratin fibers, and from about 2.5 wt % to about 95 wt %of the meltblown fibers.

Optionally, the meltblown fibers may be made of any thermoplastic resinwhich is capable of being meltblown.

Optionally, the meltblown fibers may be made of polypropylene (PP),polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU),styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE),thermoplastic rubber (TPR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),polylactate (PLA), cellulose, polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA),polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermomelt plastic, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer (EMA), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), or anycombination thereof.

Optionally, the discontinuous fibers may be made of polypropylene (PP),polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), nylon, acrylic, elastic fibers, rubber, elastane,or any combination thereof.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatusfor manufacturing a nonwoven fabric includes a carding machine, an airsource, a feeding channel, a meltblowing machine, and an import channel.The carding machine is for processing a plurality of discontinuousfibers. The air source is for providing airflow. The feeding channel isfor directing the airflow to the carding machine to card thediscontinuous fibers and to blow a plurality of natural keratin fibersinto the spaces between the discontinuous fibers. The meltblowingmachine is for providing a curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers. Theimport channel is for directing the airflow with the discontinuousfibers and the natural keratin fibers to the curtain of semi-moltenmeltblown fibers, such that the semi-molten meltblown fibers bond thediscontinuous fibers and the natural keratin fibers to form a continuousbonding web structure.

Optionally, the apparatus may include a collecting device. Thecollecting device is for collecting the continuous bonding web structureto form a fabric roll.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor manufacturing a nonwoven fabric includes the following steps: (Thesteps are not recited in the sequence in which the steps are performed.That is, unless the sequence of the steps is expressly indicated, thesequence of the steps is interchangeable, and all or part of the stepsmay be simultaneously, partially simultaneously, or sequentiallyperformed.)

(1) processing a plurality of discontinuous fibers by a carding machine;

(2) directing airflow to blow a plurality of natural keratin fibers intothe spaces between the discontinuous fibers; and

(3) directing the airflow with the discontinuous fibers and the naturalkeratin fibers to a curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers, such thatthe semi-molten meltblown fibers bond the discontinuous fibers and thenatural keratin fibers to form a continuous bonding web structure.

Optionally, the method may further include collecting the continuousbonding web structure to form a fabric roll.

Optionally, the method may further include carding the discontinuousfibers and the natural keratin fibers by an air carding machine beforedirecting the airflow with the discontinuous fibers and the naturalkeratin fibers to the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers.

Optionally, the step of directing the airflow with the discontinuousfibers and the natural keratin fibers to the curtain of semi-moltenmeltblown fibers may include directing the airflow with the cardeddiscontinuous fibers and the carded natural keratin fibers to thecurtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a nonwoven fabric according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of an apparatus for manufacturing a nonwoven fabricaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent,however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devicesare schematically depicted in order to simplify the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a nonwoven fabric 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the nonwoven fabric 100includes a plurality of discontinuous fibers 110, a plurality of naturalkeratin fibers 120, and a plurality of meltblown fibers 130. Thediscontinuous fibers 110, the natural keratin fibers 120, and themeltblown fibers 130 form a continuous bonding web structure.

In FIG. 1, the discontinuous fibers 110 can be the framework of thenonwoven fabric 100 to provide the nonwoven fabric 100 with suitablefluffiness, softness-stiffness, and resilience. The natural keratinfibers 120 have small air pockets to provide the nonwoven fabric 100with insulation and warmth. Furthermore, the natural keratin fibers 120can increase the compressional resilience of the nonwoven fabric 100 aswell. The meltblown fibers 130 can bond the discontinuous fibers 110 andthe natural keratin fibers 120 to form a continuous bonding webstructure. Furthermore, since the meltblown fibers 130 and spacesbetween the meltblown fibers 130 are small enough, the meltblown fiberscan enhance the insulation and warmth of the nonwoven fabric 100 aswell.

Relative to long fibers or continuous fibers, the discontinuous fibers110, also known as short fibers, have a general aspect ratio (defined asthe ratio of fiber length to diameter) ranging from about 20 to about60. The length of the discontinuous fibers 110 may range from about 17mm to about 61 mm. The discontinuous fibers 110 may be made ofpolypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),recycled PET, insulation PET, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), nylon,acrylic, elastic fibers, rubber, elastane, or any combination thereofwhich has fiber formability, suitable softness-stiffness, andresilience.

The natural keratin fibers 120 are made of natural keratin.Specifically, the natural keratin fibers 120 can be, for example, downand/or feathers of birds, animal fur, or any combination thereof.

The meltblown fibers 130 are fibers manufactured by melt blowing. Thediameter of the meltblown fibers 130 may range from about 0.5 μm toabout 100 μm. In the present embodiment, the meltblown fibers 130 canbond the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 toform a continuous bonding web structure.

The meltblown fibers 130 are made of any thermoplastic resin which iscapable of being meltblown, for example polypropylene (PP), polyethylene(PE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS),thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), poly trimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), polylactate (PLA), cellulose, polystyrene (PS),polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermomelt plastic,ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer (EMA), ethylene vinyl acetatecopolymer (EVA), or any combination thereof.

The weight ratio of the discontinuous fibers 110, the natural keratinfibers 120, and the meltblown fibers 130 in the nonwoven fabric 100 ofFIG. 1 depends on actual requirements. In the present embodiment, thenonwoven fabric 100 has from about 2.5 wt % to about 95 wt % of thediscontinuous fibers 110, from about 2.5 wt % to about 95 wt % of thenatural keratin fibers 120, and from about 2.5 wt % to about 95 wt % ofthe meltblown fibers 130.

The nonwoven fabric 100 of FIG. 1 has a base weight ranging from about50 g/m² to about 500 g/m² and a thickness ranging from about 0.3 mm toabout 50 mm. It should be appreciated that the aforementionedspecifications of the nonwoven fabric 100 are illustrative only andshould not limit the claimed scope of the present disclosure. Any one ofordinary skill in the art should be able to determine the specificationsof the nonwoven fabric according to actual requirements.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of an apparatus 200 for manufacturing a nonwovenfabric 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 200 for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric100 includes a carding machine 210, an air source 220, a feeding channel230, a meltblowing machine 240, and an import channel 250. The cardingmachine 210 is for processing a plurality of discontinuous fibers 110.The air source 220 is for providing airflow 225. The feeding channel 230is for directing the airflow 225 to the carding machine 210 to card thediscontinuous fibers 110 and to blow a plurality of natural keratinfibers 120 into the spaces between the discontinuous fibers 110. Themeltblowing machine 240 is for providing a curtain of semi-moltenmeltblown fibers 245. The import channel 250 is for directing theairflow 225 with the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratinfibers 120 to the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers 245, such thatthe semi-molten meltblown fibers 130 bond the discontinuous fibers 110and the natural keratin fibers 120 to form a continuous bonding webstructure.

The carding machine 210 is a machine that can disentangle, clean andintermix the discontinuous fibers 110. In the present embodiment, thecarding machine 210 includes a cylinder carding cloth. In use, thecylinder carding cloth which rotates at high speeds can catch thediscontinuous fibers 110 and move the discontinuous fibers 110 to aplace adjacent to the feeding channel 230 where the discontinuous fibers110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 are mixed. The specifications ofthe cylinder carding cloth depend on the required mixing uniformity. Inthe present embodiment, the density of the cylinder carding cloth mayrange from about 3 p/in to about 120 p/in. The angle of the cylindercarding cloth may vary from about 27° to about 80°. The angle of thecylinder carding cloth may affect the properties of the discontinuousfibers 110 which may be broken up by the cylinder carding cloth.

The air source 220 may be a blower. The flowing rate of the airflow 225may vary from about 1 m/s to about 60 m/s.

As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding channel 230 is connected to a placebelow the cylinder carding cloth, i.e. the carding machine 210, suchthat the natural keratin fibers 120 are not caught and broken up by thecylinder carding cloth, i.e. the carding machine 210. In the case thatsome of the natural keratin fibers 120 need to be broken up inmanufacturing the nonwoven fabric 100, the feeding channel 230 may beconnected to a place above the cylinder carding cloth, i.e. the cardingmachine 210. By such an arrangement, the cylinder carding cloth, i.e.the carding machine 210, can catch the natural keratin fibers 120, andsome of the natural keratin fibers 120 may be broken up by the cylindercarding cloth, i.e. the carding machine 210. Any one of ordinary skillin the art should be able to determine the detail structure of thefeeding channel 230 according to actual requirements.

The feeding rate of the discontinuous fibers 110 depend on the requiredweight ratio. In the present embodiment, the feeding rate of thediscontinuous fibers 110 may range from about 1 m/min to about 3 m/min.The number and distribution of the natural keratin fibers 120 depend onthe gaps of the cylinder carding cloth, i.e. the carding machine 210,and the rate of the airflow 225.

Whether the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120are broken up by the cylinder carding cloth, i.e. the carding machine210, almost all of the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratinfibers 120 can be blown into the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers245. Even if a very small part of the discontinuous fibers 110 and thenatural keratin fibers 120 is caught on the cylinder carding cloth, i.e.the carding machine 210, this part of the discontinuous fibers 110 andthe natural keratin fibers 120 will be used in the next turn of thecylinder, and thus the number of void if any will be minimumized toundetectable.

The semi-molten meltblown fibers 130 bond the discontinuous fibers 110and the natural keratin fibers 120 at a place ranging from about 1 cm toabout 50 cm below the die of the meltblowing machine 240 after thediscontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 are blowninto the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers 245. Since themeltblown fibers 130 are semi-molten at this time, the semi-moltenmeltblown fibers 130 can stick to the discontinuous fibers 110 and thenatural keratin fibers 120 and also encompass them together beforesolidifying. In this way, the discontinuous fibers 110, the naturalkeratin fibers 120, and the meltblown fibers 130 are firmly bondedtogether to form a continuous bonding web structure with good abrasionand pilling resistance. The process air pressure of the meltblowingmachine 240 may range from about 5 psi to about 15 psi.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 200 for manufacturing the nonwovenfabric 100 may further include a collecting device 260. The collectingdevice 260 is for collecting the continuous bonding web structure formedby the discontinuous fibers 110, the natural keratin fibers 120, and themeltblown fibers 130 to form a fabric roll. In the present embodiment,the collecting device 260 may be a conveyor belt, a roller, a vacuumpump, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the vertical distancebetween the die of the meltblowing machine 240 and the collecting device260 may range from about 10 cm to about 50 cm.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing anonwoven fabric 100. The method for manufacturing the nonwoven fabric100 includes the following steps: (The steps are not recited in thesequence in which the steps are performed. That is, unless the sequenceof the steps is expressly indicated, the sequence of the steps isinterchangeable, and all or part of the steps may be simultaneously,partially simultaneously, or sequentially performed.)

(1) processing a plurality of discontinuous fibers 110 by a cardingmachine 210;

(2) directing airflow 225 to blow a plurality of natural keratin fibers120 into the spaces between the discontinuous fibers 110; and

(3) directing the airflow 225 with the discontinuous fibers 110 and thenatural keratin fibers 120 to a curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers245, such that the semi-molten meltblown fibers 130 bond thediscontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 to form acontinuous bonding web structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the method formanufacturing the nonwoven fabric 100 may further include the followingsteps:

(4) collecting the continuous bonding web structure formed by thediscontinuous fibers 110, the natural keratin fibers 120, and themeltblown fibers 130 to form a continuous fabric roll with some physicalstrength.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the method formanufacturing the nonwoven fabric 100 may further include the followingsteps:

(2.5) carding the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratinfibers 120 by an air carding machine before directing the airflow 225with the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 tothe curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers 245.

That is, the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120are carded by the air carding machine before blown into the curtain ofsemi-molten meltblown fibers 245. In this way, the discontinuous fibers110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 can be mixed more uniformly, andtherefore the quality of the nonwoven fabric 100 is improved.

The air carding machine is a sub-element of the carding machine 210which can card and mix the discontinuous fibers 110 and the naturalkeratin fibers 120 uniformly.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the step (3) mayincludes:

(3.1) directing the airflow 225 with the carded discontinuous fibers 110and the carded natural keratin fibers 120 to the curtain of semi-moltenmeltblown fibers 245, such that the semi-molten meltblown fibers 130bond the discontinuous fibers 110 and the natural keratin fibers 120 toform a continuous bonding web structure.

WORKING EXAMPLE

A series of tests were run to determine that the aforementionedapparatus and method could manufacture the required nonwoven fabrics.The parameters described before are not repeated hereinafter, and onlyfurther information is supplied to actually perform the series of tests.

In the following working examples 1-3, the nonwoven fabrics weremanufactured by the apparatus of FIG. 2. The specifications andmanufacturing parameters are listed in the following table 1. In thefollowing working examples 1-3, the discontinuous fibers were made ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET), the natural keratin fibers were 650fill power down, and the meltblown fibers were made of polypropylene(PP).

TABLE 1 Specifications and Manufacturing Parameters of Working Example1-3 Working Working Working Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Feeding Rateof Natural 12.3 11.6 6.8 Keratin Fibers (Hz) Distribution Airflow of 6050 40 Natural Keratin Fibers (Hz) Feeding Rate of 20.6 18.3 10.1~12.5Discontinuous Fibers (Hz) Rotational Speed of 60 50 40 Carding Machine(Hz) Flowing Rate of Airflow 3.3~5.3 2.6~2.9 1.9~2.1 (m/s) FeedingDistance (cm)¹ 18 10 5 Feeding Height (cm)² 25 18 10 Note 1: The feedingdistance is the horizontal distance between the outlet of the feedingchannel and the middle axis of the curtain of semi-molten meltblownfibers. Note 2: The feeding height is the vertical distance between thebottom edge of the outlet of the feeding channel and the die of themeltblowing machine.

In the nonwoven fabrics manufactured according to the specifications andmanufacturing parameters listed in the table 1, the weight ratios of themeltblown fibers, the discontinuous fibers, and the natural keratinfibers are listed in the following table 2.

TABLE 2 Contents of Nonwoven Fabrics of Working Example 1-3 WorkingWorking Working Example 1 Example 1 Example 1 Weight Ratio³ 1.0:1.3:2.71.0:1.1:2.2 1.0:1.1:1.2 Note 3: The weight ratio is the weight of themeltblown fibers:the weight of the discontinuous fibers:the weight ofthe natural keratin fibers.

The nonwoven fabrics of the working examples 4-5 and the comparativeexamples 1-3 were compared in the following table 3. The nonwovenfabrics of the working examples 4-5 were manufactured by the apparatusof FIG. 2. The nonwoven fabric of the comparative example 1 containedthe meltblown fibers only. The nonwoven fabric of the comparativeexample 2 contained the meltblown fibers and the discontinuous fibersonly. The nonwoven fabric of the comparative example 3 contained themeltblown fibers and the natural keratin fibers only. In the nonwovenfabrics of the working examples 4-5 and the comparative examples 1-3,the discontinuous fibers 110 were made of polyethylene terephthalate(PET), the natural keratin fibers 120 were 650 fill power down, and themeltblown fibers 130 were made of polypropylene (PP). Otherspecifications and manufacturing parameters of the working examples 4-5and the comparative examples 1-3 were the same.

TABLE 3 Comparison of Working Examples 4-5 and Comparative Examples 1-3Fluffy Softness- Base Weight (g/m²) Thickness (cm) Rate StiffnessAverage Uniformity Average Uniformity (cm³ /g) (cm) Comparative Example51.6 90% 0.38 78% 7.3 2.5 1 Comparative Example 189.5 89% 1.58 95% 8.32.6 2 Comparative Example 63.8 93% 1.52 91% 23.8 2.5 3 Working Example 4101.6 94% 2.96 97% 29.1 2.8 Working Example 5 85.8 92% 1.55 94% 18.0 2.7

As listed in the table 3, the uniformities of the base weights of thenonwoven fabrics of the working examples 4-5 were larger than 90%,specifically from 92% to 94%. Since the nonwoven fabrics of the workingexamples 4-5 had the discontinuous fibers, the fluffy rates of thenonwoven fabrics of the working examples 4-5 were from 12 cm³/g to 30cm³/g, specifically from 18.0 cm³/g to 29.1 cm³/g, and thesoftnesses-stiffnesses of the nonwoven fabrics of the working examples4-5 were less than 3 cm, specifically from 2.7 cm to 2.8 cm. These datawere better than that of the comparative examples 1-3.

The nonwoven fabrics of the working example 6 and the comparativeexamples 4-6 were compared in the following tables 4-5. The nonwovenfabrics of the working example 6 were manufactured by the apparatus ofFIG. 2. The nonwoven fabric of the comparative example 4 contained themeltblown fibers only. The nonwoven fabric of the comparative example 5contained the meltblown fibers and the discontinuous fibers only. Thenonwoven fabric of the comparative example 6 were 3M™ Thinsulate™. Inthe nonwoven fabrics of the working example 6 and the comparativeexamples 4-6, the discontinuous fibers were made of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), the natural keratin fibers were 650 fill powerdown, and the meltblown fibers were made of polypropylene (PP). Otherspecifications and manufacturing parameters of the working example 6 andthe comparative examples 4-6 were the same.

TABLE 4 Comparison of Working Example 6 and Comparative Examples 4-6Insulation Heat per Unit Heat Transfer Thermal Thermal ThicknessPreservation Coefficient Resistance Resistance (° F. · (CLO/cm) Rate (%)(W/m² · ° C.) (m² · ° C./W) h · ft²/Btu) Comparative 0.94-1.3 65.30.0350 0.2026 1.1508 Example 4 Comparative 1.72 78.2 0.0317 0.12910.7333 Example 5 Comparative 1.7 60 0.0341 0.3471 1.9710 Example 6Working  2.0-2.4 80.7 0.0310 0.0966 0.5485 Example 6

TABLE 5 Comparison of Working Example 6 and Comparative Examples 4-6Compressional Resilience (%) Diameter(μm) Comparative 75%0.9-3.3(meltblown fibers) Example 4 Comparative 88% 0.9-3.3(meltblownfibers) Example 5 15.3(discontinuous fibers) Comparative 89%1.7~6.0(meltblown fibers) Example 6 25.6(discontinuous fibers) Working92% 0.9-3.3(meltblown fibers) Example 6 15.3(discontinuous fibers)

As listed in the tables 4-5, since the nonwoven fabric of the workingexample 6 had down, in comparison with the comparative example 6, theinsulation per unit thickness increases by from 17% to 41%, the heatpreservation rate increases by 34%, and the compressional resilienceincreases by 3%.

All the features disclosed in this specification (including anyaccompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced byalternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose,unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly statedotherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a genericseries of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. §112, 6th paragraph. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35U.S.C. §112, 6th paragraph.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nonwoven fabric comprising: a plurality ofdiscontinuous fibers; a plurality of natural keratin fibers; and aplurality of meltblown fibers, wherein the discontinuous fibers, thenatural keratin fibers, and the meltblown fibers form a continuousbonding web structure.
 2. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein themeltblown fibers bond the discontinuous fibers and the natural keratinfibers.
 3. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein each of the meltblownfibers has a diameter ranging from about 0.5 to about 100 μm.
 4. Thenonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein the nonwoven fabric has from about2.5 wt % to about 95 wt % of the discontinuous fibers, from about 2.5 wt% to about 95 wt % of the natural keratin fibers, and from about 2.5 wt% to about 95 wt % of the meltblown fibers.
 5. The nonwoven fabric ofclaim 1, wherein the meltblown fibers are made of any thermoplasticresin which is capable of being meltblown.
 6. The nonwoven fabric ofclaim 1, wherein the meltblown fibers are made of polypropylene (PP),polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU),styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE),thermoplastic rubber (TPR), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),polylactate (PLA), cellulose, polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA),polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermomelt plastic, ethylene-methylacrylate copolymer (EMA), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), or anycombination thereof.
 7. The nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein thediscontinuous fibers are made of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE),polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT),nylon, acrylic, elastic fibers, rubber, elastane, or any combinationthereof.
 8. An apparatus for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric, theapparatus comprising: a carding machine for processing a plurality ofdiscontinuous fibers; an air source for providing airflow; a feedingchannel for directing the airflow to the carding machine to card thediscontinuous fibers and to blow a plurality of natural keratin fibersinto spaces between the discontinuous fibers; a meltblowing machine forproviding a curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers; and an importchannel for directing the airflow with the discontinuous fibers and thenatural keratin fibers to the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers,such that the semi-molten meltblown fibers bond the discontinuous fibersand the natural keratin fibers to form a continuous bonding webstructure.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a collectingdevice for collecting the continuous bonding web structure to form afabric roll.
 10. A method for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric, themethod comprising: processing a plurality of discontinuous fibers by acarding machine; directing airflow to blow a plurality of naturalkeratin fibers into spaces between the discontinuous fibers; anddirecting the airflow with the discontinuous fibers and the naturalkeratin fibers to a curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers, such thatthe semi-molten meltblown fibers bond the discontinuous fibers and thenatural keratin fibers to form a continuous bonding web structure. 11.The method of claim 10, further comprising: collecting the continuousbonding web structure to form a fabric roll.
 12. The method of claim 10,further comprising: carding the discontinuous fibers and the naturalkeratin fibers by an air carding machine before directing the airflowwith the discontinuous fibers and the natural keratin fibers to thecurtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers; and wherein directing theairflow with the discontinuous fibers and the natural keratin fibers tothe curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers comprises: directing theairflow with the carded discontinuous fibers and the carded naturalkeratin fibers to the curtain of semi-molten meltblown fibers.